Scottish Executive

Careleavers

Donald Gorrie (Central Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to produce an integrated after care service throughout Scotland for young people who have been in care.

Nicol Stephen: We set up the Throughcare and Aftercare Working Group to advise on appropriate arrangements for a one stop shop approach to providing advice and assistance for careleavers. I expect the Group’s report later this year following completion of research currently underway by York University on behalf of the Executive into current service provision by local authorities.

Drug Misuse

Richard Lochhead (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many babies have been born with a drug addiction in each health board area in each of the last five years.

Malcolm Chisholm: The information available is shown in the following table, Discharges Recording Drug Misuse. It shows cases in which the foetus and new born baby is affected by maternal use of drugs of addiction and there are neonatal withdrawal symptoms from maternal use of drugs of addiction.

  

 Neonatal discharges1 
- Scotland: 


 By health board and local 
council area of residence; year ending 31 March 2001 


 
 All 
Discharges 
 Discharges 
Recording Drug Misuse3 


 Number 
 Rate per 1,000 
Discharges 


 Area of Residence 
 1997 
 1998 
 1999r 
 2000p,4 
 1997 
 1998 
 1999r 
 2000p,4 
 1997 
 1998 
 1999r 
 2000p,4 


 Scotland 
 17,351 
 17,322 
 17,893 
 16,832 
 161 
 217 
 246 
 220 
 9.3 
 12.5 
 13.7 
 * 


 Health Board 


 Argyll and Clyde 
 2,303 
 1,304 
 1,128 
 1,143 
 9 
 11 
 22 
 32 
 3.9 
 8.4 
 19.5 
 28.0 


 Ayrshire and Arran 
 854 
 998 
 888 
 683 
 10 
 17 
 23 
 28 
 11.7 
 17.0 
 25.9 
 41.0 


 Borders 
 273 
 238 
 251 
 272 
 - 
 1 
 - 
 2 
 - 
 4.2 
 - 
 7.4 


 Dumfries &Galloway 
  
 274 
 315 
 285 
 291 
 2 
 3 
 5 
 7 
 7.3 
 9.5 
 17.5 
 24.1 


 Fife 
 570 
 527 
 532 
 498 
 6 
 6 
 10 
 15 
 10.5 
 11.4 
 18.8 
 30.1 


 Forth Valley 
 580 
 676 
 611 
 698 
 2 
 7 
 2 
 12 
 3.4 
 10.4 
 3.3 
 17.2 


 Grampian 
 3,825 
 3,952 
 3,841 
 3,939 
 24 
 60 
 42 
 63 
 6.3 
 15.2 
 10.9 
 16.0 


 Greater Glasgow 
 2,989 
 3,466 
 3,894 
 2,966 
 59 
 66 
 100 
 174 
 19.7 
 19.0 
 25.7 
 *



 Highland 
 552 
 595 
 555 
 603 
 3 
 4 
 5 
 6 
 5.4 
 6.7 
 9.0 
 10.0 


 Lanarkshire 
 1,441 
 1,390 
 1,584 
 1,314 
 4 
 2 
 4 
 6 
 2.8 
 1.4 
 2.5 
 4.6 


 Lothian 
 2,187 
 2,414 
 3,074 
 3,469 
 20 
 16 
 19 
 28 
 9.1 
 6.6 
 6.2 
 8.1 


 Tayside 
 1,210 
 1,106 
 894 
 639 
 21 
 24 
 13 
 3 
 17.4 
 21.7 
 14.5 
 4.7 


 Orkney 
 112 
 143 
 121 
 104 
 - 
 - 
 - 
 - 
 - 
 - 
 - 
 - 


 Shetland 
 119 
 127 
 144 
 152 
 - 
 - 
 - 
 1 
 - 
 - 
 - 
 6.6 


 Western Isles 
 24 
 28 
 29 
 17 
 - 
 - 
 - 
 - 
 - 
 - 
 - 
 - 


 Other2 
 38 
 43 
 62 
 44 
 1 
 - 
 1 
 - 
 26.3 
 - 
 16.1 
 - 



  P Provisional data

  * Data withheld

  Notes:

  1. A baby may be admitted to and discharged from neonatal care more than once. Figures relate to the total number of discharges, not the number of individual babies.

  2. Area of residence "not known" or outwith Scotland.

  3. Drug misuse is defined using the following International Classification of Disease (10th Revision) codes: P96.1 and P04.4.

  4. Numbers are lower than expected due to under recording, particularly in Greater Glasgow, Western Isles and Shetland health board areas.

  Additional information is published in Drug Misuse Statistics Scotland 2000 (Chapter 6 – Drug Misuse in Pregnancy), a copy of which is available in the Parliament’s Reference Centre (Bib. number 10066).

  The publication can also be accessed at the following web address:

  http://www.drugmisuse.isdscotland.org/publications/000bull/Chapter6.pdf

Drug Misuse

Richard Lochhead (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many intravenous drug users were diagnosed with hepatitis B in each of the last five years, showing any percentage increase or decrease in each year, broken down by health board area.

Malcolm Chisholm: The information requested is given in the following table:

  

 Hepatitis B infected 
drug users: 1996-2000 


 Health board1

 Number 
 Percentage 
change2 


 Hepatitis 
B(Drug misuse cases) 
 1996 
 1997 
 1998 
 1999 
 2000 
 1996-97 
 1997-98 
 1998-99 
 1999-2000 
 1996-20003



 Argyll & 
Clyde 
 4 
 15 
 17 
 11 
 3 
 275 
 13 
 -35 
 -73 
 -25 


 Ayrshire & 
Arran 
 - 
 - 
 1 
 - 
 - 
 n/a 
 n/a 
 -100 
 n/a 
 n/a 


 Dumfries & 
Galloway 
 - 
 - 
 - 
 2 
 - 
 n/a 
 n/a 
 n/a 
 -100 
 n/a 


 Forth Valley 
  
 - 
 - 
 - 
 - 
 - 
 n/a 
 n/a 
 n/a 
 n/a 
 n/a 


 Grampian 
 5 
 1 
 25 
 65 
 44 
 -80 
 2,400 
 160 
 -32 
 780 


 Greater Glasgow 
  
 7 
 7 
 13 
 20 
 18 
 0 
 86 
 54 
 -10 
 157 


 Highland 
 - 
 - 
 - 
 1 
 1 
 n/a 
 n/a 
 n/a 
 0 
 n/a 


 Lanarkshire 
  
 - 
 - 
 - 
 2 
 3 
 n/a 
 n/a 
 n/a 
 50 
 n/a 


 Lothian 
 1 
 - 
 - 
 1 
 1 
 -100 
 n/a 
 n/a 
 0 
 0 


 Tayside 
 - 
 - 
 - 
 13 
 1 
 n/a 
 n/a 
 n/a 
 -92 
 n/a 


 Not Known 
  
 3 
 1 
 2 
 - 
 - 
 -67 
 100 
 -100 
 n/a 
 -100 


 Scotland 
 20 
 24 
 58 
 115 
 71 
 20 
 142 
 98 
 -38 
 255 



  Notes:

  1. "Health Board" refers to the person’s health board of residence, or where it is not known the health board of specimen.

  2. Percentage change is calculated by dividing the previous year from the subsequent year, multiplying by 100 and subtracting 100.

  3. Percentage increase between years 1996 and 2000.

  Additional information is published in Table number 71 and pages 107 to 109 of Drug Misuse Statistics Scotland 2000 (Chapter 8 – HIV, AIDS, hepatitis B and hepatitis C Infection), a copy of which is available in the Parliament’s Reference Centre (Bib. number 10066).

  The publication can also be accessed at the following web address:

  http://www.drugmisuse.isdscotland.org/publications/00bull/Chapter8.pdf

Drug Misuse

Richard Lochhead (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what funding was allocated to hypodermic needle exchange programmes in each of the last five years, broken down by health board area.

Malcolm Chisholm: There is no funding exclusively set aside for the provision of needle exchange facilities.

  The table sets out the funding specifically provided to boards over the last five years to assist their work in preventing the transmission of bloodborne viruses. Such work can, where appropriate, include the provision of needle exchange facilities:

  


 


1996-97
(£ million) 
  

1997-98
(£ million) 
  

1998-99
(£ million) 
  

1999-2000
(£ million) 
  

2000-01
(£ million) 
  



Argyle & Clyde 
  

0.387 
  

0.387 
  

0.387 
  

0.341 
  

0.363 
  



Ayrshire & Arran 
  

0.414 
  

0.414 
  

0.414 
  

0.309 
  

0.303 
  



Borders 
  

0.113 
  

0.116 
  

0.116 
  

0.102 
  

0.106 
  



Dumfries & Galloway 
  

0.178 
  

0.180 
  

0.180 
  

0.132 
  

0.106 
  



Fife 
  

0.204 
  

0.151 
  

0.152 
  

0.225 
  

0.358 
  



Forth Valley 
  

0.427 
  

0.466 
  

0.466 
  

0.380 
  

0.244 
  



Grampian 
  

0.271 
  

0.271 
  

0.269 
  

0.386 
  

0.601 
  



Greater Glasgow 
  

1.319 
  

1.299 
  

1.299 
  

1.206 
  

1.357 
  



Highland 
  

0.262 
  

0.262 
  

0.262 
  

0.203 
  

0.178 
  



Lanarkshire 
  

0.360 
  

0.322 
  

0.322 
  

0.318 
  

0.382 
  



Lothian 
  

1.603 
  

1.528 
  

1.528 
  

1.676 
  

2.206 
  



Orkney 
  

0.030 
  

0.027 
  

0.027 
  

0.028 
  

0.036 
  



Shetland 
  

0.037 
  

0.033 
  

0.033 
  

0.039 
  

0.054 
  



Tayside 
  

0.852 
  

0.906 
  

0.906 
  

0.760 
  

0.754 
  



Western Isles 
  

0.048 
  

0.048 
  

0.048 
  

0.043 
  

0.046 
  



State Hospital 
  

0.027 
  

0.027 
  

0.027 
  

0.023 
  

0.023 
  



Total 
  

6.532 
  

6.437 
  

6.436 
  

6.171 
  

7.117 
  



  The sum being provided to boards for prevention work in 2001-02 will be £8.119 million.

  In addition, health boards are to receive an additional £10 million over the next three years for drug treatment services, some of which may be used to provide needle exchange facilities. The Executive expects expenditure by health boards on treatment to increase the numbers in contact with services for the first time by 50% to 16,500 by 2004.

  Also, in 1999-2000, a sum of £4.09 million was provided to boards for them to negotiate contracted pharmacy services; pharmacy-based needle exchange was one such service. This element of funding is now included in the unified budget provided to health boards on a global basis.

Drug Misuse

Richard Lochhead (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many discarded hypodermic needles were collected in public places in each of the last three years, broken down by local authority area, and what percentage of the number collected nationally each of these figures represents.

Malcolm Chisholm: This information is not available centrally.

Drug Misuse

Richard Lochhead (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how much and what percentage of the budget made available to (a) Grampian Health Board and (b) Tayside Health Board for drug detoxification treatment was spent outwith the Grampian and Tayside areas in each of the last three years.

Malcolm Chisholm: Figures available for the year 1998-1999 show that, for residential rehabilitation only, the spend outwith the area was for (a) Grampian Health Board £110,000 or some 66%, and for (b) Tayside Health Board, 100%.

  Figures are not available for 1997-98.

  The Drug Action Teams within both Health Board areas are working to establish local residential drug rehabilitation services in addition to the range of other treatment and other care services available for drug misusers.

Drug Misuse

Richard Lochhead (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of crime has been estimated as drug-related in each of the last five years, broken down by police force.

Mr Jim Wallace: The recorded crime statistics in Scotland distinguish crimes involving drugs, such as cultivation, importation, possession and supply. They do not identify all drug-related crimes, such as those committed to fund a drugs habit. This more general information is not collected nationally or at police force level, and is only available from criminal justice research, such as the reports listed:

  Interviewing and Drug Testing of Arrestees in Scotland: A Pilot Study of the Arrestee Drug Abuse Monitoring (ADAM) Methodology.

  Published by the Scottish Executive Central Research Unit in 2000.

  The Criminal Histories of 372 Suspected Drug Offenders.

  Published by the Scottish Executive Central Research Unit in 2001.

  Recreational Drugs and Driving: Prevalence Survey.

  Published by the Scottish Executive Central Research Unit in 2001.

  Copies of these reports are available in the Parliament’s Reference Centre (Bib numbers 7209, 12860 and 11659 respectively).

Education

Tricia Marwick (Mid Scotland and Fife) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how local authorities who are not members of COSLA are to be represented in the new Scottish negotiating committee for teachers.

Mr Jack McConnell: The constitution for the Scottish Negotiating Committee for Teachers formed part of the agreement on teachers’ conditions of service (which was endorsed by representatives of all local authorities on 26 January). The constitution states that the Committee will have 22 members appointed annually and drawn from COSLA, the Scottish Executive and organisations representing teachers. Under the terms of the constitution, representation from local authorities is a matter for COSLA.

Education

Mr Kenneth Gibson (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-12169 by Mr Jack McConnell on 6 March 2001, why current expenditure per pupil fell in Glasgow by £72 between 1996-97 and 1998-99 in real terms.

Mr Jack McConnell: The Scottish Executive does not plan local authority expenditure in detail. The authorities make their own spending decisions, including the allocation of resources to the various services for which they are responsible.

Education

Michael Russell (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many secondary schools offer (a) Latin and (b) classical studies as examinable subjects.

Mr Jack McConnell: The Scottish Qualifications Authority’s Annual Statistical Report for 1999 reported that 70 centres offered Latin and 45 centres offered classical studies.

Environment

Robin Harper (Lothians) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive how much and what proportion of Scotland’s municipal waste is currently recycled within Scotland.

Rhona Brankin: Information is not held centrally on the proportion of municipal waste collected in Scotland which is currently recycled into new material within Scotland.

Environment

Robin Harper (Lothians) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive how much revenue is currently generated from the recycling of municipal waste.

Rhona Brankin: This is a matter for local authorities. The information requested is not held centrally.

Environment

Robin Harper (Lothians) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive what subsidies are available for the recycling of municipal waste; what amounts are involved, and what the source is of each subsidy.

Rhona Brankin: Details of grants and subsidies available for the recycling of municipal waste are given in the table.

  


Grant/Subsidy 
  

Amount 
  

Source 
  

Payment Dates 
  



Strategic Waste Fund
(for local authority recycling & composting initiatives) 
  

£3 million 
  

Scottish Executive 
  

2000-01 
  



Strategic Waste Fund (for local authorities to implement 
  Area Waste Plans) 
  

£50.4 million 
  

Scottish Executive 
  

2001-04 
  



Strategic Waste Fund
(other waste initiatives) 
  

£400,000 
  

Scottish Executive 
  

2002-04 
  



Landfill Tax Credits
(grants to recycling initiatives) 
  

Information not held centrally 
  

Landfill Operators 
  

1996 onward 
  



Recycling Credits
(subsidy to third parties to recycle municipal waste) 
  

Information not held centrally 
  

Local Authorities 
  

1992 onward 
  



New Opportunities Fund (community sector waste reuse, recycling 
  and composting) 
  

£5.25 million 
  

Lottery Funding 
  

by March 2004 
  



  In addition, the Scottish Executive has increased the Grant Aided Expenditure to local authorities for Environmental Services by £50 million over the next three years. However, it is for the authorities to decide how much they allocate towards recycling.

Environment

Robin Harper (Lothians) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive what targets have been set for the recycling of municipal waste over the next (a) five, (b) 10 and (c) 15 years and who is responsible for setting and monitoring these targets.

Rhona Brankin: Recycling targets have not been set. However, the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) has established a Recycling Targets Working Group consisting of representatives from the Scottish Executive, COSLA, local authorities and Recycling Market Development (ReMaDe) Scotland to advise on recycling targets.

Environment

Robin Harper (Lothians) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive how it will ensure that any new UK investment in recycling infrastructure benefits Scotland.

Rhona Brankin: The Executive is a joint contributor to the Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP). One of WRAP’s key priorities is to stimulate a significant increase in reprocessing capacity in the UK. Specifically, WRAP’s programme includes a target to attract at least another £10 million investment a year in reprocessing capacity. Our participation in WRAP is to ensure that the work and benefits of the programme also apply to Scotland.

Environment

Robin Harper (Lothians) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive how many jobs the recycling industry directly supports.

Rhona Brankin: The information requested is not held centrally.

European Funding

Mr Kenneth Gibson (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it will have with Her Majesty’s Government and the European Union to ensure that EU structural funding for Scotland from 2006 is maximised.

Peter Peacock: As I announced at the debate on Structural Funds on 5 April, we are already in close contact with the UK Government and the European Union on the future of Structural Funds following the enlargement of the European Union. Our aim is to make sure that Scottish interests are fully accounted for in the wider debate concerning Structural Funds and related enlargement issues.

European Funding

Mr Kenneth Gibson (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what lessons it has learned from the last round of discussions on EU Structural Funds, taking into account the success of the Republic of Ireland in retaining Objective One status for much of the country.

Peter Peacock: The Scottish Executive believes that the outcome of the last round of discussions on EU Structural Funds represents a good deal for Scotland and the UK as well as the EU as a whole. We are now seeking to build on that experience to make sure that Scottish interests are fully accounted for in the wider debate now beginning concerning regional policy and enlargement.

European Union

Mr John Swinney (North Tayside) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many technical committees and working parties of the EU Council of Ministers have been attended by Scottish Executive officials since 1 July 1999, specifying the date and subject of each of these meetings.

Mr Jack McConnell: The information requested is set out in the table. No distinction is made in our records between "working groups", "technical committees" and "working parties": all are classed as working groups.

  Attendance At Council Working Group Meetings By Scottish Executive Officials

  1 July 1999 – 31 December 2000

  


Year 
  

Date 
  

Working Group 
  



1999 
  

1 July 
  

Internal Fisheries Group 
  


 

5 July 
  

Committee on Civil Law 
  


 

8 July 
  

Environment WG 
  


 

8 July 
  

Education Committee 
  


 

9 July 
  

Environment 
  


 

9 July 
  

Education Committee 
  


 

14 July 
  

Committee on Civil Law 
  


 

15 July 
  

Internal Fisheries Group 
  


 

22 July 
  

Environment 
  


 

22 July 
  

External Fisheries Group 
  


 

9 Sept 
  

EC Education Committee Meeting 
  


 

9 Sept 
  

Internal Fisheries Group Meeting 
  


 

16-17 Sept 
  

EC Education Committee Meeting 
  


 

23-24 Sept 
  

Environment 
  


 

28 Sept 
  

Fisheries Research 
  


 

29-30 Sept 
  

Internal/External Fisheries Group Meeting 
  


 

12 Oct 
  

External Fisheries 
  


 

11-13 Oct 
  

Civil Law Committee (Rome II) 
  


 

18-19 Oct 
  

Council WG of Vet Experts, regarding ISA – Brussels 
  


 

18-23 Oct 
  

External Fisheries Group, Faroes 
  


 

28 Oct 
  

Civil Law Committee (Service of Documents) 
  


 

28 Oct 
  

Internal Fisheries Group, Brussels 
  


 

29 Oct 
  

External Fisheries Group, Brussels 
  


 

8 Nov 
  

Committee on Civil Law: Service of Documents 
  


 

16 Nov 
  

Brussels II 
  


 

18 Nov 
  

Committee on Civil Law: General Questions 
  


 

19 Nov 
  

Brussels I 
  


 

29 Nov 
  

Committee on Civil Law: Post Tampere 
  


 

1 Dec 
  

External Fisheries Group 
  


 

2-3 Dec 
  

Internal Fisheries Group 
  


 

10 Dec 
  

Brussels II 
  


 

13 Dec 
  

Education Committee 
  



2000 
  

10 Jan 
  

Health 
  


 

11-12 Jan 
  

Beef Labelling 
  


 

17 Jan 
  

Brussels I 
  


 

17-18 Jan 
  

Education Committee 
  


 

18-19 Jan 
  

Milk 
  


 

24 Jan 
  

External/Expert Fisheries Group 
  


 

27 Jan 
  

Beef Working Group 
  


 

27-28 Jan 
  

Internal Fisheries Group 
  


 

27-28 Jan 
  

External/Expert Fisheries Group 
  


 

3 Feb 
  

External Fisheries Group 
  


 

9/10 Feb 
  

Internal Fisheries Group 
  


 

10 Feb 
  

Committee on Civil Law: General Questions 
  


 

11 Feb 
  

Brussels II 
  


 

22-23 Feb 
  

Education Committee 
  


 

24 Feb 
  

National Emissions Ceiling Directive (NECD) 
  


 

23/24 Feb 
  

Water Framework Directive WG 
  


 

13-14 March 
  

EC Education Committee 
  


 

14 March 
  

Service of Documents 
  


 

14-16 March 
  

Internal Fisheries Group 
  


 

17 March 
  

Brussels I 
  


 

30-31 March 
  

Education Committee 
  


 

3 April 
  

Health WG 
  


 

11-12 April 
  

Water Framework Directive WG 
  


 

10-14 April 
  

EFG, Greenland 
  


 

26-27 April 
  

EC Education Committee 
  


 

12 May 
  

Education 
  


 

25-26 May 
  

Environment 
  


 

29 May 
  

Health 
  


 

29-30 May 
  

Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive 
  


 

12-13 June 
  

Working Group to consider revisions required for fish health 
  directives 
  


 

12-17 June 
  

EFG, Faroes 
  


 

19 June 
  

Health 
  


 

19-20 June 
  

EU Draft Framework on the Status of the Victim in Criminal 
  Procedure 
  


 

22 June 
  

Committee on Civil Law: General Questions 
  


 

29 June 
  

Health 
  


 

8 July 
  

Working Group on Rice 
  


 

10 July 
  

Working Group on Milk 
  


 

10 July 
  

Committee on Civil Law: Brussels I 
  


 

12 July 
  

Pig Scheme Working Group 
  


 

12-13 July 
  

Working Group on Fish Waste Brussels 
  


 

18-19 July 
  

Committee on Civil Law: Brussels III 
  


 

18 July 
  

LIFE Environment Management Committee 
  


 

14 July 
  

Committee on Civil Law: General Questions 
  


 

5 Sept 
  

Health Working Group 
  


 

7 Sep 
  

Environment 
  


 

11-13 Sept 
  

External Fisheries 
  


 

20 Sept 
  

Working Group On Rice 
  


 

25-29 Sept 
  

Fish Health Working Group, Brussels 
  


 

27 Sept 
  

External Fisheries WG 
  


 

28 Sept 
  

External Fisheries WG 
  


 

2-3 Oct 
  

External Fisheries WG 
  


 

4 Oct 
  

Committee on Civil Law: General Questions 
  


 

5 Oct 
  

Internal Fisheries Group 
  


 

9-11 Oct 
  

External Fisheries WG 
  


 

12 Oct 
  

External Fisheries WG 
  


 

16-18 Oct 
  

External Fisheries WG 
  


 

25 Oct 
  

Taking of Evidence 
  


 

26 Oct 
  

Committee on Civil Law: Brussels 1 
  


 

31 Oct 
  

IFG Fisheries 
  


 

31 Oct 
  

External Fisheries WG 
  


 

8 Nov 
  

Committee on Civil Law: Brussels I 
  


 

13 Nov 
  

Committee on Civil Law: Brussels III 
  


 

13 Nov 
  

Veterinary Experts 
  


 

14-15 Nov 
  

Fisheries Committee 
  


 

24 Nov 
  

Committee on Civil Law: Taking of Evidence 
  


 

7 Dec 
  

Committee on Civil Law: Hague Co-ordination 
  


 

14 Dec 
  

Environment

Fertility Treatment

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what consideration it is giving to the possibility that article 12 of the European Court of Human Rights entitles women to fertility treatment, and whether any changes to policy are planned in this area.

Susan Deacon: There is no ECHR case law to date which imposes a duty on states to provide funding for women to receive fertility treatment.

  The report of the Expert Advisory Group on Infertility Services in Scotland, which was published in February 2000, provides a robust evidence base for the management and delivery of infertility services in Scotland. All health boards and NHS Trusts in Scotland have been asked to work towards implementation of the recommendations in the report as resources permit.

  There are no plans to change current policy in this area.

Health

Nicola Sturgeon (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, where a patient has been admitted to a psychiatric ward on more than one occasion in the last five years, what the average length of time was between admissions.

Susan Deacon: The average length of time between admissions, for patients admitted to a psychiatric ward on more than one occasion in the five year period 1995-1999, was 174 days.

Health

Nicola Sturgeon (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many intensive care beds there were in each of the last five years broken down by (a) health board and (b) acute trust.

Susan Deacon: Data for general adult intensive care beds are published each year in the Audit Report of the Scottish Intensive Care Society.

  For the period 1996 to 2000, the average numbers of funded general adult intensive care beds in each 12-month period by health board were:

  


 


1996 
  

1997 
  

1998 
  

1999 
  

2000 
  



Argyll and Clyde 
  

8 
  

8 
  

8 
  

9 
  

9 
  



Ayrshire and Arran 
  

5 
  

5 
  

9 
  

9 
  

9 
  



Borders 
  

2 
  

2 
  

3 
  

3 
  

3 
  



Dumfries and Galloway 
  

4 
  

4 
  

4 
  

4 
  

4 
  



Fife 
  

9.5 
  

9.5 
  

9.5 
  

10 
  

10 
  



Forth Valley 
  

8 
  

8 
  

8 
  

8 
  

8 
  



Grampian 
  

7.5 
  

7.5 
  

8 
  

9 
  

9 
  



Greater Glasgow 
  

24 
  

25 
  

25 
  

25 
  

29 
  



Highland 
  

4 
  

4 
  

4.5 
  

4.5 
  

6 
  



Lanarkshire 
  

12 
  

12 
  

12 
  

12 
  

13 
  



Lothian 
  

19.5 
  

20.5 
  

20.5 
  

21.5 
  

22.5 
  



Tayside 
  

8.5 
  

10 
  

10 
  

10 
  

10 
  



TOTAL 
  

112 
  

115.5 
  

121.5 
  

125 
  

132.5 
  



  Intensive Care bed numbers by Acute Hospital:

  


Health Board/Hospital 
  

1996 
  

1997 
  

1998 
  

1999 
  

2000 
  



Argyll and Clyde 
  



Inverclyde Royal 
  

3 
  

3 
  

3 
  

3 
  

3 
  



Vale of Leven 
  

2 
  

2 
  

2 
  

2 
  

2 
  



Royal Alexandria 
  

3 
  

3 
  

3 
  

4 
  

4 
  



Ayrshire and Arran 
  



Ayr 
  

- 
  

- 
  

4 
  

4 
  

4 
  



Crosshouse 
  

5 
  

5 
  

5 
  

5 
  

5 
  



Borders 
  



Borders General 
  

2 
  

2 
  

3 
  

3 
  

3 
  



Dumfries and Galloway 
  

 


 


 


 


 




Dumfries 
  

4 
  

4 
  

4 
  

4 
  

4 
  



Fife 
  



Victoria 
  

3.5 
  

3.5 
  

3.5 
  

4 
  

4 
  



Queen Margaret 
  

6 
  

6 
  

6 
  

6 
  

6 
  



Forth Valley 
  



Stirling 
  

4 
  

4 
  

4 
  

4 
  

3 
  



Falkirk 
  

4 
  

4 
  

4 
  

4 
  

5 
  



Grampian 
  



Aberdeen Royal 
  

7.5 
  

7.5 
  

8 
  

9 
  

9 
  



Greater Glasgow 
  



Western Infirmary 
  

6 
  

6 
  

6 
  

6 
  

7 
  



Glasgow Royal Infirmary 
  

6 
  

7 
  

7 
  

7 
  

7 
  



Victoria Infirmary 
  

4 
  

4 
  

4 
  

4 
  

5 
  



Stobhill 
  

4 
  

4 
  

4 
  

4 
  

5 
  



Southern General 
  

4 
  

4 
  

4 
  

4 
  

5 
  



Highland 
  



Raigmore 
  

4 
  

4 
  

4.5 
  

4.5 
  

6 
  



Lanarkshire 
  



Hairmyres 
  

3 
  

3 
  

3 
  

3 
  

3 
  



Law 
  

4 
  

4 
  

4 
  

4 
  

5 
  



Monklands 
  

5 
  

5 
  

5 
  

5 
  

5 
  



Lothian 
  



Royal Infirmary 
  

8.5 
  

9.5 
  

9.5 
  

10.5 
  

10.5 
  



Western General 
  

8 
  

8 
  

8 
  

8 
  

8 
  



St John’s 
  

3 
  

3 
  

3 
  

3 
  

4 
  



Tayside 
  



Ninewells 
  

5.5 
  

7 
  

7 
  

7 
  

7 
  



Perth Royal 
  

3 
  

3 
  

3 
  

3 
  

3 
  



Total 
  

112 
  

115.5 
  

121.5 
  

125 
  

132.5 
  



  Note: the figures in the above tables are drawn from the Audit Report of the Scottish Intensive Care Society and include general adult ITU beds only. They therefore exclude coronary and cardiac care beds, neurosurgical beds and paediatric intensive care beds.

Health Technology Board for Scotland

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive why the Health Technology Board for Scotland is not evaluating any drug treatments this year.

Susan Deacon: The Health Technology Board for Scotland’s (HTBS) assessment of interventions to maintain recovery from alcohol dependency, one of the first 3 topics for assessment, includes the evaluation of several drugs.

  Additionally, HTBS will comment on all National Institute for Clinical Excellence Appraisals to place them in a Scottish context. This work will include several topics related to drug treatments.

  The HTBS will announce further topics later in the year and is actively canvassing interested parties for suggestions. As outlined in its process documents, HTBS will ensure there is a balance of drugs, devices, clinical procedures, and healthcare settings considered in its work programme.

Health Technology Board for Scotland

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Health Technology Board for Scotland’s assessment topics for this year reflect the three clinical priorities of cancer, mental health and heart disease as outlined in the Scottish Health Plan.

Susan Deacon: Positron Emission Tomography (PET) scanning in cancer, organisation of screening services for diabetic retinopathy, and interventions to overcome alcohol dependency will be the first Health Technology Assessments (HTAs) performed by the Health Technology Board for Scotland (HTBS) and reflect major commitments in Our National Health: a plan for action, a plan for change.

  Specifically, these HTAs support the commitment for continued improvements in cancer survival rates from better diagnosis and treatment, the establishment of a national screening strategy to raise the standard of diabetes care, and a plan for action on alcohol misuse.

  The national clinical priorities influence HTBS’s approach to its work and are considered when topics for assessment are being selected.

Local Government

David Mundell (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to assess the applicability in Scotland of Bristol City Council’s decision to allow Internet voting in the referendum currently taking place.

Peter Peacock: The results of the referendum in Bristol showed that 2.68% of the total votes cast were done so by internet as opposed to 94.18% by post. Whilst there are no current plans to introduce alternative methods of voting in local government elections in Scotland, this is an area which we will keep under review within the wider agenda of modernising Government.

Local Government

Dr Sylvia Jackson (Stirling) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has considered the responses to its consultation paper published on 8 June 2000, Best Value in Local Government: Next Steps.

Peter Peacock: We received 69 responses to the consultation paper. I have today provided the Scottish Parliament Information Centre with copies of an analysis of the views and opinions expressed by the organisations who responded to the paper by the extended deadline of 20 October 2000.

  Best Value is a large subject and the consultation paper was wide ranging. On issues relating to the existing range of statutory restrictions on the commercial activities of local authorities, the responses prompted further consultation via the paper A power of Community initiative: Community Planning: Political Restrictions on council employees published on 22 November 2000. We do not intend to reach any conclusions on these issues until the responses to that paper have been considered.

  But I am happy to confirm that we intend to publish proposals for legislation on Best Value in autumn 2001.

NHS

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W- 13855 by Susan Deacon on 16 March 2001, when the NHSScotland Clinical Waste Steering Group will (a) complete an action plan and (b) produce further waste training/education guidance to encourage waste segregation and promote minimisation.

Susan Deacon: The NHSScotland Clinical Waste Steering Group expect to be in a position to present the Action Plan recommendations to NHS Trusts and other NHSScotland bodies by mid summer 2001.

  The NHS in Scotland Property and Environment Forum, which supports the Clinical Waste Steering Group, plans to have further training/education guidance in place by the end of the current financial year. This work is part of the Forum’s business plan for this year and will be taken forward with funds from a landfill tax grant.

National Lottery Funding

Richard Lochhead (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how much National Lottery Charities Board funding has been allocated to each (a) parliamentary region and (b) parliamentary constituency, and what percentage of the total monies allocated by the Board in Scotland each of these figures represents.

Allan Wilson: These are matters for the lottery distributor concerned and I have asked them to respond to the member directly and a copy of the reply will be placed in the Parliament’s Reference Centre.

National Lottery Funding

Richard Lochhead (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many applications for National Lottery Charities Board funding there have been from each (a) parliamentary region and (b) parliamentary constituency, specifying the percentage of successful applications in each case.

Allan Wilson: These are matters for the lottery distributor concerned and I have asked them to respond to the member directly and a copy of the reply will be placed in the Parliament’s Reference Centre.

Police

Mrs Mary Mulligan (Linlithgow) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether there are any plans to set national targets for the Scottish Police Service.

Mr Jim Wallace: A range of targets, arrived at following detailed consultation with the Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland and with the Conveners of police authorities, are being set for the Scottish police to achieve by the year 2003-04.

  The targets are intended to build on local plans and existing strategies and to provide a national dimension by highlighting areas of national concern. They also encompass existing national targets for road policing and drug enforcement. The targets are as follows:

  Road policing/safety: 

  A reduction in number of people killed or seriously injured in road accidents by 18 per cent.

  A reduction in the number of children killed or seriously injured by 25 per cent.

  A reduction in the slight casualty rate by 4 per cent.

  Drugs:

  An increase in the number of drug seizures of 25 per cent .

  An increase in the detection of offences for supply or intent to supply drugs by 25 per cent.

  Housebreaking:

  A 10 per cent reduction in domestic housebreaking.

  Racist incidents:

  An increase in the detection rate for racist incidents of 10 percentage points.

  Further targets are being developed for violence and public safety.

Scottish Executive Expenditure

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the total cost will be of the Scottish-Nordic Council meeting at Skibo Castle and from which budget these costs will be met.

Angus MacKay: The total organisational cost of the Nordic-Scottish Co-operation conference is £45,000. This is being met from the budget for External Relations initiatives of the Scottish Executive (£26,500); Highlands & Islands enterprise (£15,500); and Scottish Enterprise (£3000).

Scottish Executive Staff

Mr Kenneth Gibson (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-12051 by Angus MacKay on 8 February 2001, why it has no full-time staff based in East Renfrewshire, Midlothian and North Ayrshire and whether it has any plans to disperse jobs to these areas.

Angus MacKay: The location of staff is determined by a range of factors. Staff of the Rural Affairs Department, for instance, provide a range of services to the agricultural community from offices around Scotland. The location of these offices relates to the efficiency and effectiveness of the service provided rather than to local authority boundaries.

  Last December I announced to Parliament that detailed reviews of the Edinburgh operations of six public bodies would be undertaken to individual timetables based on lease breaks and other operational factors. The reviews will determine the most efficient and effective locations for the work concerned. No specific areas of Scotland will be targeted and equally no areas will be ruled out.

  I also announced at that time that the Scottish Commission for the Regulation of Care and the Scottish Social Services Council would not be located in Edinburgh. Malcolm Chisholm announced on 6 March that the national offices of these two new bodies will—if the Parliament passes the necessary legislation to enable them to be established—be located in Dundee. In addition there will be 5 further regional offices for the Commission. The locations being considered are the Inverness area, the Aberdeen area, the Paisley area, the Hamilton/East Kilbride area and East Lothian. Decisions on regional offices for the Commission will be announced shortly.

Scottish Qualifications Authority

Mr Brian Monteith (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-9725 by Mr Sam Galbraith on 22 September 2000 and the answer to question S1W-14308 by Mr Jack McConnell on 3 April 2001, which local authorities had submitted claims for additional costs incurred as a result of the 2000 examinations diet prior to the decision to make ex gratia payments to all local authorities in respect of such costs.

Mr Jack McConnell: The following local authorities submitted claims for compensation in respect of additional costs incurred as a result of the 2000 examinations diet:

  Aberdeenshire

  East Ayrshire

  East Renfrewshire

  Edinburgh City

  Fife

  Midlothian

  West Lothian

Scottish Qualifications Authority

Michael Russell (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how much the Scottish Qualifications Authority has spent since 1 August 2000 on employing external consultants in (a) IT, (b) management accountancy, (c) management review and structural review, (d) internal audit, (e) external audit, and (f) other matters.

Mr Jack McConnell: This is a matter for the Scottish Qualifications Authority. I have asked the Chair to write to Mr Russell.

Scottish Qualifications Authority

Michael Russell (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how much has been paid both by (a) it and (b) the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) since 1 August 2000 to (i) Deloitte & Touche and (ii) PricewaterhouseCoopers for their work in connection with the SQA and what known or anticipated costs are still to be paid to, or billed by, each of these firms.

Mr Jack McConnell: The Scottish Executive commissioned Deloitte and Touche to carry out a review into the exam results issues concerning the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) and I refer Mr Russell to the answer to PQ S1W-09374 answered on 28 September 2000. The Scottish Executive has also commissioned Deloitte and Touche to work with the SQA on detailed project planning and expects to make a payment in the region of £80,000 for that work.

  Work carried out by PricewaterhouseCoopers for the SQA is a matter for the SQA and I have asked the Chair to write to Mr Russell about this.

Scottish Qualifications Authority

Michael Russell (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many pupils will sit exams in (a) Latin and (b) classical studies at the spring 2001 examination diet.

Mr Jack McConnell: Entries for the 2001 diet are still being submitted by centres and as a result the information requested is not yet available. I have asked the Chair of the Scottish Qualifications Authority to write to Mr Russell once the information is available.

Scottish Qualifications Authority

Michael Russell (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive in which local authority areas pupils who have taken the relevant course at school rather than elsewhere are being presented by their school for Scottish Qualifications Authority examinations in (a) Latin and (b) classical studies.

Mr Jack McConnell: Entries for the 2001 diet are still being submitted by centres and as a result the information requested is not yet available. I have asked the Chair of the Scottish Qualifications Authority to write to Mr Russell once the information is available.

Scottish Qualifications Authority

Michael Russell (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive when it was informed that the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) board wished to include in the terms and conditions packages for senior SQA staff performance bonus payments and what consultation it undertook during its consideration of this matter.

Mr Jack McConnell: Under the terms of the Scottish Qualification Authority’s (SQA) Management Statement and Financial Memorandum, the Scottish Qualifications Authority is responsible for the development of its management and staffing structures and for human resource management. I have asked the Chair to write to Mr Russell.

Scottish Qualifications Authority

Michael Russell (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it held with the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) board on the proposal to include performance bonus payments in the terms and conditions packages for senior SQA staff.

Mr Jack McConnell: Under the terms of the Scottish Qualifications Authority’s (SQA) Management Statement and Financial Memorandum, the Scottish Qualifications Authority is responsible for the development of its management and staffing structures and for human resource management. I have asked the Chair to write to Mr Russell.

Scottish Qualifications Authority

Michael Russell (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what criteria for the payment of performance bonuses to senior staff at the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) were proposed by the SQA board and whether it approved any such criteria and payments.

Mr Jack McConnell: Under the terms of the Scottish Qualification Authority’s (SQA) Management Statement and Financial Memorandum, the Scottish Qualifications Authority is responsible for the development of its management and staffing structures and for human resource management. I have asked the Chair to write to Mr Russell.

Scottish Qualifications Authority

Michael Russell (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what proportion of the salary costs of the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) is paid to (a) senior managers, (b) junior managers, (c) clerical and administrative staff, (d) professional staff, (e) other staff, and (f) part-time staff not included in the above; what the current total staffing complement of the SQA is, broken down by each of these categories, and how many staff in each category have terms and conditions that include performance bonus payments.

Mr Jack McConnell: This is a matter for the Scottish Qualifications Authority. I have asked the Chair to write to Mr Russell.

Scottish Qualifications Authority

Michael Russell (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had over the past twelve months with trade unions which have members working in the Scottish Qualifications Authority.

Mr Jack McConnell: There have been no meetings discussing SQA issues between the Scottish Executive and trade unions representing Scottish Qualifications Authority staff over the past twelve months.

  Employment related issues are a matter for the Scottish Qualifications Authority. I have asked the Chair to write to Mr Russell.

Smoking

Mr Kenneth Gibson (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is in relation to the introduction of a UK tobacco regulatory authority with responsibility for all aspects of tobacco regulation, including monitoring tobacco advertising regulations, controlling the manufacture, sale and content of tobacco and nicotine products and advising government on the health risks of passive smoking.

Malcolm Chisholm: The introduction of a UK tobacco regulatory authority would be a matter for the UK Government. The regulation of tobacco advertising is, however, for the Scottish Parliament to determine.

Social Work

John Scott (Ayr) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many employees from each local authority’s social work department left such employment in each of the last five years.

Nicol Stephen: This is a matter for the local authorities. The information requested is not held centrally.

Social Work

John Scott (Ayr) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many unfilled posts there currently are in each local authority’s social work department.

Nicol Stephen: This is a matter for the local authorities. The information requested is not held centrally.

Social Work

Mr Kenneth Gibson (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many vacancies for social workers there currently are, broken down by local authority, and what steps it has taken or plans to take to address any shortages.

Nicol Stephen: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-14568.

Social Work

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects to publish the Annual Report of the Chief Social Work Inspector on services across Scotland.

Mr Jack McConnell: The Chief Inspector’s report is being published today and copies will be made available in the Parliament’s Reference Centre.

Teachers

Michael Russell (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many qualified teachers of (a) Latin and (b) classical studies are currently employed in secondary schools.

Mr Jack McConnell: The latest information available at September 1998 shows there were an estimated 61 (FTE) teachers recording Latin as their main subject qualification, and a further 107 (FTE) teachers recording Latin as a supplementary qualification, in publicly funded secondary schools. Similarly, there were 60 (FTE) teachers recording Classics as their main subject qualification, and another 37 recording Classics as a supplementary qualification.

Transport

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide a breakdown of the estimated £492,000 strategic co-ordination costs referred to in Proposals for a Highlands and Islands Integrated Transport Authority.

Sarah Boyack: These calculations were based on the estimated salary and employer costs of those Executive staff who have responsibility relating to one or more functions that could be transferred to a HIITA. This extended to over 40 staff, principally in the roads and ferries Divisions, within the Executive’s Development Department. Many of these staff also have responsibilities that would not be transferred, so an estimate was made of the time they spend on the "transferable" functions only and costs were adjusted accordingly.

Water Authorities

Richard Lochhead (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether its legal advice is that it would be possible for the water authorities to be exempted from the Competition Act 1998.

Ross Finnie: The Executive’s assessment of the scope for exempting the water authorities from the provisions of the Competition Act 1998 is set out in Annex B of its consultation paper on the Water Services Bill, which is available in the Parliament’s Reference Centre (Bib number 12181).

Water Charges

Pauline McNeill (Glasgow Kelvin) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what measures it is taking to support charities and voluntary organisations in relation to water and sewerage charges.

Ross Finnie: Phasing in of water charges to all organisations affected by the decision to withdraw reliefs is being made over a period of 5 years.

  Additionally, the water authorities have offered to install water meters free where this will reduce costs. This should have the effect of reducing further any additional liability that these organisations have to face.

  However, the Scottish Executive recognises the concerns of a number of organisations about the immediate impact of the first phase of withdrawals this year, and we are in contact with the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations on this.